Do These 10 Things In The Morning To Feel More Productive All Day

Whether or not you’re a morning person, the earlier portion of the day can have a massive positive impact on your remaining waking hours if you use it properly. If you want to get more done throughout the day, wake up a little earlier and do these things befoer you head off to work:

Make your bed. Not only is there nothing quite like coming home and climbing into a made bed, but taking a couple minutes to make it in the morning sets you up for success throughout the whole day. Making your bed provides an easy “before and after” that comes from accomplishing something right after you wake up, which puts you on the right track to get more done as the hours pass by.

Shower. Some people prefer to shower at night, but a morning shower gives you a true fresh start. You start your day off more awake and squeaky clean, washing away the sleep from your eyes and any sweat you accumulated on your skin throughout the night.

Create a to-do list. There are few things more satisfying than being able to cross off items on a to-do list, and having one ready in the morning helps you get organized right from the get-go. Knowing what lies ahead ensures that you won’t end up forgetting a task (or worrying about forgetting a task), and when the day concludes, you’ll be able to look back and feel accomplished over all the goals you completed.

Complete at least three “two-minute” tasks. It’s easy to procrastinate when you have a lot on your plate, which can lead to a lot of easy obligations piling up. Instead of putting them off, think about all the things that need to be done around the house, and spend six minutes doing three of them. Put the dirty dishes in the dishwasher, throw laundry in the washing machine, and clean up the bathroom sink. Not only will you make chores easier on your future self, but you’ll also go about your day already feeling like you’ve gotten a lot done.

Check the news and social media. Living in a digital age can leave us feeling like we have to see what’s going on in the world and within our social circles. If you get this out of the way while you’re drinking your morning coffee, it can help you feel less inclined to sneak in internet breaks while you need to get work done. Get your social media fix in early, and you’ll end up getting a lot more done before you check it again at lunchtime.

Change into “normal” clothes. If you work a traditional job, you probably have no choice but to change out of your pajamas in the morning. But if it’s the weekend or you work from home, it can be tempting to just stay in your comfy clothes all day. If you have stuff to do, dress like you have stuff to do — wear clothes that would be suitable for leaving the house or getting work done. You might be surprised at how much more motivated it makes you feel, even though it’s less comfortable than your sweatpants.

Answer any emails or messages you have. If you’re notorious for having dozens of unread emails or letting texts go unanswered for days, just get them out of the way before the rest of your day gets started. It’ll be one less thing sitting in the back of your mind, and you can do it while you’re brushing your teeth or sitting on the toilet.

Open all the blinds. It’s amazing what a bit of sunlight can do for your mood. The sleepy part of your brain might want to keep your room nice and dark to make it easier on your eyes, but letting the light in sends the message to your mind and body that it’s time to wake up. Plus, you’re likely to get a mood boost from seeing the sun, which can get your day off to a brighter start… literally.

Figure out the day’s food situation. You can meal prep if you’re bent on getting truly organized, but if you don’t want to dedicate the time and energy to prepare your lunch and dinner for the day, at least have an idea of what you’re going to eat. Even if you change your mind when your next meal rolls around, thinking about what you want to eat later in the day can give you something to look forward to and prevent you from making rushed (and likely unhealthy) decisions when you’re hungry and desperate.

Drink a glass of water or two. When we go to sleep, we go a long time without drinking any water, and most of us wake up dehydrated. Getting some water into your body right after waking up helps wake up your organs and get your bodily functions running smoothly again. You’ll feel less sluggish, less hungry, and more focused if you start the day off hydrated.